Geopolitically, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland – a sovereign state covering five-sixths of the island and still a member of the European Union after Brexit) and Northern Ireland (part of the United Kingdom and Brexited with England, covering the remaining sixth of the island surface). It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest in the world.
Today we came into port near Dublin, the capitol of Ireland, and had an excursion: "Ballyknocken House & Glendalaugh." We headed to County Wicklow, known as the Garden of Ireland passing through a countryside of rounded granite hills, incised by deep glens and wooded valleys. We stopped at Ballyknocken House where a famed chef, Catherine Fulvio, taught us to prepare simple soda bread and scones, and afterwards served us tea along with her earlier made soda bread and scones, served with butter and plenty of scrumptious homemade strawberry jam.
We also had a tour of the monastic ruins of Glendalough, which was established by St Kevin in the 6th century. The ruined churches of the monastery are scattered around two lakes, and once was a famous place of learning, inhabited by thousands of students from Ireland, Britain and Europe. Here we saw ruins of round tower architecture, ruined stone church and decorated crosses. I also had the opportunity to shop at the monastery where handcrafted woolen and other items were beautiful and for sale.
Our long bus coach ride back was the start of several long bus rides in a row as we continue to Scotland and Northen Island, a challenge for my knees to remain bent for so long on multiple bus trips.
No comments:
Post a Comment